Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 16, 2012 near Shawneetown, Illinois. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture 48 percent of the state's corn crop is currently in poor to very poor condition. Illinois is the second largest producer of corn in the United States behind Iowa.

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 16, 2012 near Shawneetown, Illinois. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture 48 percent of the state's corn crop is currently in poor to very poor condition. Illinois is the second largest producer of corn in the United States behind Iowa.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Marion Kujawa feeds corn to his cattle on July 16, 2012 near Ashley, Illinois. Many farmers in the Midwest have been selling off their cattle because of the lack of available or the high price of hay and corn in the drought-stricken region. According to the Illinois Farm Bureau the state is experiencing the sixth driest year on record.

Marion Kujawa feeds corn to his cattle on July 16, 2012 near Ashley, Illinois. Many farmers in the Midwest have been selling off their cattle because of the lack of available or the high price of hay and corn in the drought-stricken region. According to the Illinois Farm Bureau the state is experiencing the sixth driest year on record.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Rain falls on drought-damaged corn on July 17, 2012 near Somerville, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Rain falls on drought-damaged corn on July 17, 2012 near Somerville, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

A cow feeds in a drought-damaged pasture as temperatures climb near 100 degrees on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades.

A cow feeds in a drought-damaged pasture as temperatures climb near 100 degrees on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn is watered with an irrigation system on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn is watered with an irrigation system on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn is watered with an irrigation system on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn is watered with an irrigation system on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Rain falls on drought-damaged corn on July 17, 2012 near Somerville, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Rain falls on drought-damaged corn on July 17, 2012 near Somerville, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Drought-damaged corn grows in a field on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Drought-damaged corn grows in a field on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Soybean plants, whose growth has been stunted by drought, grow in a field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Soybean plants, whose growth has been stunted by drought, grow in a field on July 17, 2012 near Fritchton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

Drought-damaged corn grows in a field on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Drought-damaged corn grows in a field on July 17, 2012 near Princeton, Indiana. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. Indiana was the nation's fourth largest corn producer in 2011.

Severe Drought Threatens Midwest Corn Crops

Scott Olson

As temperatures climb near 100 degrees a cow finds shade in a parched pasture on July 16, 2012 near Uniontown, Kentucky. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades.

As temperatures climb near 100 degrees a cow finds shade in a parched pasture on July 16, 2012 near Uniontown, Kentucky. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades.

Keywords

Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 16, 2012... News PhotoAgriculture,Damaged,Dry,Emergencies and Disasters,Farm,Field,Finance,Horizontal,Illinois,Outdoors,Rural Scene,USA,WeatherPhotographer Scott OlsonCollection: Getty Images News 2012 Getty ImagesSHAWNEETOWN, IL - JULY 16: Corn plants dry in a drought-stricken farm field on July 16, 2012 near Shawneetown, Illinois. The corn and soybean belt in the middle of the nation is experiencing one of the worst droughts in more than five decades. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture 48 percent of the state's corn crop is currently in poor to very poor condition. Illinois is the second largest producer of corn in the United States behind Iowa. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)